New Year, New Team, New Blog!

Janet has created this fabulous blog where you can follow the design team all year and see all our layouts in one place. How fun, hun?

Over the next few weeks, we'll be introducing ourselves by posting our bio questions and answers. Since my name is first in the sidebar, I thought I'd go first.

1. Tell us all about you. My name is Aphra Bolyer, and I live in Pineville, Louisiana, with my Alaskan oilman husband Jeff and our two sons, Jonathan (9) and Ethan (2). In between chasing the kids, cleaning up after the dog, bouncing from ballpark to ballpark and working part-time at the doctor's office, I grab a cup of coffee and lock myself up in my scraproom.

2. When and why did you start scrapbooking? My cousin invited me to a Creative Memories party when my first son was about 11 months old. I went home with gobs of product and a newfound hobby.

3. What best describes your scrapbooking style? At the moment, my style is bold, linear and clean with a touch of shabby. But don't be surprised if you see that evolve during this next year. I love to try new things!

4. Besides your cutter and scissors, what are three scrapbooking products you couldn't live without? Hmmmm.....based on my receipts, I spend the most money on paper, glue dots, and punches.

5. What paper line best describes you? Oh gosh, this is a hard one. I LOVE paper and hoard it. But I'm still a HUGE October Afternoon fan. It's bold, colorful, and a little shabby.

6. What embellishment line best describes you? Hands down, American Crafts Thickers. Is that even an embelllishment? Regardless, I use them on pretty much EVERY layout. And the reason I say they best describe me is that they come in different colors and textures and fonts, which works well for my ever-changing style.

7. What designer inspires you? I love me some Jana Eubank. She's an everyday scrapper who finds a way to make any paper or embellishment work for photos of her daily life. You can find her at My Feathered Nest. Tell her I said "Hi."

8. What was your favorite innovative product of 2009 and why? Not sure how innovative it is, but I absolutely fell in LOVE with Martha Stewart's butterfly punch. It is sooooo easy to use, cuts through anything (even the Starbuck's coffee collars), and adds the sweetest touch to any layout.

9. What are your feelings about journaling? Anything goes. Really, I don't think there should be any hardfast rules about it. Sometimes, I feel inspired to journal my thoughts and feelings and sometimes I just list the basic facts. Depends on the photos. I use tags, a Dymo label maker, tickets, whatever.

10. What do you hope to get out of being on the Treasured Memories Design Team this year? To continue to grow and learn as a scrapbooker, to challenge and be challenged, to inspire and be inspired, and to have FUN along the way.

Be sure to follow the blog, so you can get to know the entire team as they post their bios. AND look for our first assignment to be posted at the beginning of March. See you soon!